Naas Community Warden Scheme is launched
Minister for Finance Charlie McCreevy TD launching the new Community Warden Scheme in Naas.
NAAS, 29 January 2002: by Brian Byrne. The six Community Wardens for Naas were officially launched yesterday on their work against illegal parking, litterbugs, and anti-social offenders on the streets of the county town.
Finance minister Charlie McCreevy did the honours at an afternoon tea event in the Naas Town Council Chamber, welcoming the special six - two of whom are well known to Naas people, as they have been the parking wardens for many years.
Come summer, their duties may also include providing tourist information to those who have fallen foul of Ireland’s road signage system, but until then they’ll be spending most of their time policing Naas’s new Pay Parking Scheme which comes into effect next Monday.
Their litter management capabilities will not be coming into effect for about three months, but one warden told KNN he has already selected Poplar Square for special attention in this regard, an area which he believes is ‘absolutely terrible’ in litter terms.
The ‘grey six’ go on the streets from this morning so that people will get used to seeing them in their new Continental-style semi military uniforms.
Minister McCreevy said the ‘visible presence’ around Naas’s streets and neighbourhoods will ‘provide peace of mind’ and create a useful link between the community, the town council, and the gardai.
The wardens include Patrick Killick (Clane) and Joe Nolan (Naas) who have been patrolling the streets of Naas for the last 13 years; newcomers Mike Carroll and Geoff Slack (Naas), John Travers (Maynooth), and Rachel O’Keeffe (Athy).
The Naas scheme is one of a number of pilot operations of the Community Warden programme around the country.
The new Community Wardens with the Minister for Finance, Charlie McCreevy TD; Naas Town Council chairman Willie Callaghan; Chief Superintendent Sean Feely; and members and officials of Naas Town Council.
©2002knn